Step-ladder.



G. C. WILCKE.

STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY )0, I916.

Patented June 11, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

| INVENTOR WW 5: 2M

7 BY Wm,

ATTORN EY G. C. WILCKE.

STEP LADDER. APPLICATION FILED MAY I0. 1916- 1 269, 142, PatntedJune 111918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WlTNESSES v 'ATTORNEY GEORGE o. wILoxE, OF FINDLAY, OHIO.

STEP-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10, 1916. Serial No. 96,668.

To all/whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon C. VJLOKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Step -Ladders, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved extensible step ladder and theprincipal object of the invention is to provide an improved extensiblestep ladder having an improved means for slidably connecting the upperand lower sections of the step ladder and to further provide improvedmeans for slidably connecting the upper and lower sections of the rearsupport for the step ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forreleasably holding these extensible sections in an adjusted position andpreventing the ladder from collapsing when in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved bracing means forthe rear support, the bracing means being adjustable and permitted ofbeing releasably held in the adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the means forslidably connecting the sections of the ladder and support andreleasably holding .the sections in the adjusted position that theseparts will be securely and firmly held in an extended position but atthe same time to provide fastening means so constructed that the partsmay be easily released and the ladder permitted to collapse whendesired.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a' view showing the improved step ladder in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the improved step ladder in rear elevation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the up.- per and lower sections ofthe step ladder taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View partially in elevation and partially insection showing the manner of releasably holding the sections of therear support in an adjusted position.

Fig. 5 is a. sectional view through one side portion of the rear supporttaken along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the brace positioned betweenthe step ladder and rear support.

The step ladderis provided with an up per section 10 and a lower section11. The side bars of the lower section extend in diverglng dlrectionswhereas the side bars of Patented June11, 1918. a

the upper section extend parallel so that the" side bars of the uppersection may be slidably positioned in the yokes 12 carried by r the sidebars of the lower section.

The rear support is also provided with an upper section 13 and a lowersection 14, the lower section having its side bars extending indiverging relation and the upper section having its side bars extendingparallel and extending through the eyes 15 which are secured to the sidebars of the lower section and to the cross bar'or bracing bar 16connecting the upper end portions of the side bars of the lower section.Guiding strips or webs 17 are secured to the upper end portions of theside bars of the lower section 14 and by engaging the outer side facesof the side bars of the upper section 13, brace the upper section andprevent this upper section from having transverse movement. Thereforethe upper section and the lower section will be held firmly againsttransverse play and there will be no danger of the ladder toppling overwhen in use.

In order to releasably hold the upper sections of the step ladder andrear support in an adjusted position, there has been provided the pawlsor latches 18 and 19 which are similar in construction and operation andare connected with the hinge brackets 20 and 21 secured to the side barsof the lower sections 11 and 14. These hinge brackets can be formed ofsheet metal and as shown in Fig. 4 are secured by means of the screws 22and have their side portions bent to provide hinge cars 23 between whichthe pawls or latches will be mounted by means of the pivot pins 24. Theside bars of the upper sections 10 and 13 will be provided with sockets25 covered by the perforated plates 26. After the upper sections of thestep ladder and rear support have been raised to the proper position,the latches 18 and 19 will be swung to extend into the sockets 25 andthe ladder will then be securely but releasably held at the properheight.

The side bars of the rear support are hingedly connected with the upperportion of the step ladder by means of the strap hinges 27 and in orderto brace the rear support, there has been provided a brace in eludingthe two sections or arms 28 and 29. These arms 28 and 29 are pivotallyconnected with the side bars of the lower sections of the step ladderand rear support and can be adjusted longitudinally as the rear supportis swungtoward or away from the step ladder. The arm 29 is slotted asshown at 30 to receive the guiding pin 31 carried by the arm 28 and thearm 29 is provided at its free end with a hook 32 which will'fit into aselected socket 33 of the arm28 thus se curely but releasably holdingthe brace at the adjusted length. Therefore as the height of the'ladderis increased, the rear support can be moved farther'away from'the lowerend 01": the step ladder thus proXiding the proper angle to support thestep ladder and prevent it tilting over. When not in use, this stepladder can be collapsed and then folded in the ordinary manner.

WVhat is claimed is A step ladder comprising upper and lower sect-ionsslidably connected and each provided with side bars, the side bars ofthe upper section of the step ladder being provided-with sockets,bearing brackets carried by the side bars of the lower section adjacentthe upper end thereof, and pawls pivotally connected with the bearingbrackets and extendingaeross and resting fiat upon the upper ends of thelower side bars and fitting into the sockets of the side bars of theupper section to releasably hold the upper section at an adjustedheight, said pawls having their free ends cut to provide cam facesausing the pawls to move to an inoperative position'when the uppersection is raised.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE C. WILCKE/ Witnesses:

MARION G. Fos'rER, CARL WILCKE.

Cbpiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "flo'mmissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G,

